Cricket

Pakistani Fan's Placard for 'Dropped' Babar Azam Sparks Social Media FrenzyIn an unexpected twist during the Pakistan vs England series decider at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, a Pakistani fan displayed a placard expressing support for the recently dropped Babar Azam. The placard, which read "I skipped school to see King Babar," drew attention on the opening day of the third and final Test.Babar Azam, Pakistan's captain and star batsman, was surprisingly omitted from the team for the second and third Tests against England due to a poor run of form. In the first Test in Multan, he scored a disappointing 30 and 5, following a string of low scores against Bangladesh at home.The fan's placard sparked a flurry of witty comments on social media. Some users questioned the fan's decision to skip school, while others praised his unwavering support for Babar Azam.Meanwhile, on the field, England struggled to 110 for five at lunch on the opening day. Sajid Khan and Noman Ali wreaked havoc on the English top order, with Sajid claiming three wickets and Noman taking two. Ben Duckett (52) and Zak Crawley (29) provided a steady start, but Ollie Pope (3), Joe Root (5), and Harry Brook (5) were dismissed cheaply.Skipper Ben Stokes and Jamie Smith remained unbeaten at the break on 6 and 5, respectively, as England faced an uphill battle in the series-deciding contest.

Pakistan's unwavering faith in their spin-heavy strategy has led them to field an unchanged starting eleven for the decisive third Test against England in Rawalpindi. This decision comes after their resounding 152-run victory in the second Test in Multan, where their triple-spin attack proved highly effective.The decision to retain the same lineup is a testament to Pakistan's belief in the curators' efforts to transform the Rawalpindi surface into a spin-friendly haven. Historically, the Pindi pitch has not been conducive to spin, but the curators have been working tirelessly to alter its behavior.Industrial-sized fans and heaters have been deployed to dry out the surface, while windbreakers have been placed around the pitch to prevent moisture from seeping in. Footmarks are visible on the strip, particularly outside the left-hander's off-stump, indicating that the pitch may offer assistance to spinners.Pakistan's head coach, Jason Gillespie, acknowledged the unique nature of the pitch. "It's an interesting pitch," he said. "We expect it to favor the slower balls here."The series is currently level at 1-1, with both teams eager to secure a series victory. Pakistan is seeking their first series win since their 2-0 triumph in Sri Lanka in July, while England is aiming to avoid a series defeat.Pakistan's unchanged lineup features Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (captain), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Salman Agha, Aamer Jamal, Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, and Zahid Mahmood.

England's Test tour of Pakistan reaches its climax in Rawalpindi, a match that will not only determine the series outcome but also provide crucial insights into the team's ability to compete in Asian conditions. After 17 Tests in Asia over the past four years, England will not return for another two, making this match a pivotal moment in their subcontinent journey.Under Ben Stokes' leadership, England's record in Asia stands at five wins and five defeats, with one victory under Ollie Pope's captaincy. While they are not alone in struggling in India, a second consecutive win in Pakistan would bolster their subcontinent credentials.Rawalpindi holds special significance for England, as it was the site of their remarkable victory two years ago, where they amassed 506 runs on the first day and showcased their bowling prowess on a lifeless surface. However, they anticipate a different challenge this time, reflected in their selection of three frontline spinners, including Rehan Ahmed.The pitch has been meticulously prepared to favor spin, with groundstaff using rakes and heaters to create a turning surface. Stokes acknowledges the potential for a "decent wicket" for the first few days, but believes the spinners will come into play as the game progresses.Pakistan's approach to pitch preparation has raised eyebrows, with the recycling of the same strip in Multan and the tailoring of the Rawalpindi surface to suit their spinners. However, Stokes has refrained from criticism, simply stating that the pitch is "good."The toss will play a significant role, as it did in the second Test in Multan. Stokes recognizes the importance of winning the toss in subcontinent conditions, but believes the pitch will not deteriorate as drastically as in previous matches.England has shown a willingness to adapt to overseas conditions, as evidenced by the inclusion of Rehan Ahmed as a wildcard spin option. Stokes believes his "free spirit" and ability to create chances will be valuable, even on a flat pitch.Stokes' own batting in the subcontinent has been underwhelming, with an average of 27.22 and only one century in eight innings in Pakistan. He will be eager to end his century drought and prove his worth in these challenging conditions.The success of the McCullum-Stokes regime will ultimately be judged by their results against India and Australia next year, but this week's match will shape their reputation in Asia. Stokes emphasizes the importance of winning, highlighting their singular focus on securing victory in Rawalpindi.

Pakistan's Test team coach, Jason Gillespie, has garnered praise for his humble gesture after a training session ahead of the series-deciding third Test against England in Rawalpindi. A video circulating on social media shows Gillespie diligently picking up empty bottles and disposing of them in a dustbin.The incident occurred on Tuesday, as the team prepared for the crucial match. England had won the first Test by an innings and 47 runs, while Pakistan had fought back to clinch victory in the second by 152 runs.Gillespie's actions have been lauded by fans and observers alike, who have commended his "grace" and professionalism. Some have speculated that the empty bottles were left behind by the Pakistan players, who may have exited the training area without cleaning up.Meanwhile, the ground staff at the Rawalpindi stadium are working tirelessly to dry up the wicket in order to assist Pakistan's spinners. Three heaters and fans are being used on either side of the track to remove moisture from the 22-yard strip.The second match of the series was played on the same track in Multan, which became worn-out and cracked after being used in the first Test. This assisted the Pakistan spinners, who took all 20 English wickets to fall in that match.The third Test is set to begin on Thursday in Rawalpindi, with both teams eager to secure victory and claim the series. Pakistan will be hoping to continue their winning momentum, while England will be determined to bounce back and level the series.

Pakistan's hopes of winning the first Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi were dashed after the visitors took an unexpected first innings lead of 117 runs. The lead has given Bangladesh a glimmer of hope for a victory, while Pakistan's pacer Naseem Shah has criticized the pitch for not providing the home advantage they desired.After the end of the fourth day's play on Saturday, Shah called out the board for not creating a pitch that could give the hosts the advantage they sought. "We have had enough series where we had such pitches," Shah said in the post-match press conference. "They did their best to prepare a pitch that was helpful, but I think because of the heat, or excessive sunshine, the surface wasn't quite helpful."Shah emphasized the need for home advantage, stating that it is crucial to get a match result at any cost. "We didn't get the help we expected from the pitch," he said. "But everyone tried their best."In the second innings on Day 4, Pakistan started badly when opener Saim Ayub was dismissed for just a single. However, Mushfiqur Rahim played a brilliant innings, adding 114 with Liton Das for the sixth wicket and then a record 194 for the seventh wicket with Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Bangladesh's previous Test best against Pakistan was the 555-6 they made at Khulna in 2015.Pakistan will need to bat aggressively in the second innings to chase down the target and avoid defeat. The match is evenly poised, and either team could emerge victorious.

Pakistan's assistant coach, Azhar Mahmood, expressed surprise at the unexpected behavior of the Rawalpindi pitch during the third day of the Test match against Bangladesh. Pakistan had anticipated a seam-friendly surface, but the pitch proved to be slow and low, favoring the batters.Mahmood revealed that Pakistan's decision to field an all-pace attack was based on their belief that the pitch would aid seam bowling. However, the pitch dried out quickly, altering its characteristics. "We were hoping for pace and bounce, but the wicket dried out faster than we expected," Mahmood said.Pakistan's frustration was evident as Bangladesh ground through the early sessions, accumulating runs at a slow pace. Despite regular wickets, an unbeaten 98-run partnership between Litton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim dashed Pakistan's hopes of securing a substantial lead.Mahmood acknowledged that the pitch was not the sole factor in Bangladesh's success. Pakistan's bowling discipline deteriorated in the final overs, allowing the batters to score freely. "We were not disciplined enough in the last 12 overs," Mahmood admitted.The assistant coach also expressed mild bemusement at the pitch's unexpected behavior. "Anyone who looked at the wicket would have thought it would be a seaming track," Mahmood said. "We didn't make a mistake reading the pitch, it just didn't play like we thought it should."Pakistan has been working with Australian curator Tony Hemmings to improve the pitches at Rawalpindi. Mahmood indicated that they will continue to seek Hemmings' expertise to create surfaces that suit their plans.

Pakistan's dominance continued on Day 3 of the first Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, as the hosts tightened their grip on the match. Resuming at 27/0, Bangladesh openers Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan faced a relentless Pakistan bowling attack.Pakistan's bowlers, led by Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi, kept the pressure on the Bangladesh batsmen. Islam fell for 23, caught behind off Afridi, while Hasan was dismissed for 30, trapped lbw by Shah.With the openers back in the pavilion, Bangladesh's middle order struggled to cope with Pakistan's pace and spin. Mushfiqur Rahim (16) and Liton Das (14) were both dismissed cheaply, leaving Bangladesh reeling at 85/4.Mohammad Rizwan, who scored a magnificent 171 in Pakistan's first innings, continued to torment Bangladesh with his off-spin. He dismissed Najmul Hossain Shanto (18) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (12), reducing Bangladesh to 123/6.As the day progressed, Pakistan's bowlers continued to chip away at Bangladesh's batting lineup. Yasir Shah claimed the wickets of Nurul Hasan (16) and Khaled Ahmed (0), while Afridi returned to dismiss Taijul Islam (10).At the close of play, Bangladesh were struggling at 169/9, still trailing Pakistan by 279 runs. Ebadot Hossain (10*) and Shoriful Islam (0*) were the only batsmen left at the crease.Pakistan will be confident of wrapping up the match on Day 4 and securing a crucial victory in their quest for a Test series win on home soil. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will need a miraculous effort to avoid defeat.